Video shot on Thursday shows the heavy snow at Chateau Tongariro, which has now trapped hundreds . Video/Maddie Doughty
While the worst of the storm was expected to have passed yesterday, conditions in Taupo have worsened today, with heavy rain and wind keeping school holidaymakers indoors.
Melissa Morrissey, who lives at Rangitaiki, 40km south-east of Taupo, estimated 5cm of snow had fallen during the last hour.
She was hopingthe snow would not be able to build up in drifts or bring down power lines.
Last August, a massive snow dump saw some Rangitaiki residents without power for four weeks after the snow broke lines and brought down poles.
The road between Napier and Taupo remains closed due to heavy snow.
Central Taupo escaped snow yesterday but hill areas around the town received varying amounts from a light dusting at Tauhara to a several centimetres of snow at Oruanui, north-west of Taupo.
Snow at Rangitaiki, 40km east of Taupo. Photo/Melissa Morrissey
This morning the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) pleaded with motorists to keep off central region roads until they were safe to travel on.
Emergency welfare centres across the Ruapehu District would reopen today and council officials would be moving through townships to make sure people were safe and had basic needs.
Powerco said several thousand customers went without power last night after heavy snowfalls downed lines and flooding created havoc across the company's network.
Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh said damage was spread across a large swathe of the lower North Island including Wairarapa, Manawatu, Whanganui, Taranaki, Ohakune, Waiouru and Taihape.
Hundreds have also lost power in Hawke's Bay this morning as severe gales batter the region.
Unison relationship manager Danny Gough suspected many of the power outages were due to the severe winds and confirmed crews were working on the network.
A total of 489 customers lost power in Waimarama this morning at 9.13am and by 10am power cuts to hundreds more were reported in Havelock North, Clive, Haumoana, Eskdale, Te Haroto, Glengarry and Putorino.
Mr Gough said these power outages were most likely the result of the severe weather and affected customers in exposed, high country areas.
This morning Civil Defence reported taking a number of motorists whose cars and trucks were yesterday stranded on the Napier Taupo Rd back to their vehicles to retrieve them.
Escorted by police, the motorists with cars were to bring them back to Napier, while an effort was to be made to take the trucks through to Taupo. The road still remains closed to all other traffic.
This morning the Hastings District Council received reports from residents about rain-related issues on the road, particularly Waimarama and Maraetotara Rd.
Council teams were on their way to the sites and the council advised people to take care when driving.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council communications specialist Helen Shea said it was important locals avoided any non-essential travel.
A MetService severe weather warning and heavy snowfall warning is in place for Hawke's Bay as further snow is expected about the ranges until late this afternoon.
Heavy rain and southerly gales were expected about Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty and Taupo today and a watch was in force for these areas.
There are currently area warnings in place for SH50 from Takapau to Waiohiki and SH2 from Takapau to Bay View due to flooding.
Ms Shea said she also understood Taihape Rd also remained closed.
Despite being happy with how the network had so far coped with this week's weather, Mr Gough advised locals to be prepared for power outages throughout the day as the weather was a significant event and warned against touching downed lines.
